Process of preparing clay



(No Model.)

P. ARNOLD. PROCESS OF PREPARING GLAY.

No. 475,915. Patented May 31, 1892.

712171 e are :1"

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHINEAS ARNOLD, OF CANAL DOVER, OHIO.

PROCESS OF PREPARING CLAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,915, dated May 31,1892.

Application filed February 2'7, 1892. Serial No. 423,032. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PHINEAS ARNOLD, of Canal Dover, in the county ofTuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processes of Preparing Clay; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertainstomake and use the same.

Myinvention relates to-an improved process of preparing clay for use inthe manufacture of brick by the dry or semi-dry process.

The process heretofore employed of inakin g brick by the dry or semi-dryprocess was unsuccessful and unsatisfactory, owing to the crazing orcracking of the surface of the brick, a feature that was exceedinglyobjectionable and that rendered the brick far from being perfect.

The crazing or cracking of the surface of the brick just alluded to isdue in a great measure to the faulty preparation of the clay, the latternot being perfectly tempered and the quality of plasticity not havingbeen sufficiently developed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of an ap paratus suitable for use in carrying out my improvedprocess. Fig. 2 is a plan in section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a box or casing,preferably rectangular in plan. Box or casing A at the top and one endthereof has connected and in open communication therewith an inclinedtrough or chute or feed-box B, the latter extending, preferably, theentire Width of box or casing A. At the lower end of trough, chute, orfeed-box B is located a sprayer or scatterer O, the latter comprising,preferably, a rotating brush provided with rows of wire bristles. Thetrunnions of sprayer or scatterer O extend through the sides of box orcasing A and have bearing in boxes 0', supported by longitudinal beams Dat the sides of box or casing A. Sprayer or scatterer 0 extends,preferably, the entire width of box or casing A, and the one trunnionthereof is provided with a driving-pulley, as at 0 E represents asteam-supply pipe that extends up along the one side of box or casing Aand at the upper end is provided with a T E", that is connected by meansof elbows F with a coil of pipe F, that extends into and crosswise ofbox or casing A and preferably just outside the opposite side of saidbox or casing, the arrangement and configuration of elbows F beingpreferably such that coil F will be located in an oblique plane, asshown in Fig. l. The sections of the coil of pipe F have numerousperforations, as atf, (see Fig. 3,) said perforations being adapted todischarge the steam in jets, and as indicated by the arrows f in Fig. 1.

G represents rotating shafts that extend lengthwise through the lowerpart of box or casing A and are journaled in suitable boxes G, supportedby cross-beams II at the ends of box or casing A. Shafts G are provided,respectively, with knives or blades g, alternate blades or knives of ashaft projecting in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Shafts G outside box or casing A are intergeared, as at I, and the oneshaft is provided with a driving-pulley, as at J.

The bottom of box or casing A at the end of the same opposite to thelocation of the sprayer or scatterer O is provided with an openingK,that discharges into a box L, that is adapted to conduct the clay to thebrickmachine. (Not shown.)

The clay is conveyed to the apparatus through chute, trough, or feed-boxB in a dustlike or finely-disintegrated condition, and as it reaches thelower end of feed-box B is sprayed or scattered by means of thescattering device 0 through the steam issuing from the coil of pipe E.The clay thus becomes steamed and falls in a moist or saturatedcondition upon and among blades or knives gof shafts G below, whereuponthe clay is thoroughly worked by the action of said knives or blades andits plasticity developed while the blades or knives are working the clayforward to discharge-opening K.

M represents a pipe adapted to carry off any surplus steam,and Nrepresents an apron extending crosswise of box or casing A and located ashort distance forward of sprayer or scatterer O and being preferablyarranged obliquely to the top of box or easing A, as

shown. Directly above the outer section of coil F box or casing A has aninwardly-projecting ledge O, that also extends the entire Width of saidbox or casing. By reference to Fig. l of the drawings it will beobserved that the inner ends N and O of apron N and ledge 0,respectively, extend over the respective sectlons of coil F, whereby theclay sprayed or scattered by means of sprayer G aforesaid is compelledto take a course through the steam lssuing from coil F.

By my improved process of preparing the clay previous to itsintroduction into the brickmachine the plasticity of the clay is morehighly developed, and by the use of clay prepared by my improved processthe manufacture of brick is not only greatly facilitated,

but the surface of the brick made of this clay is not liable to craze orcrack.

hat I claim is The process of preparing clay herein described, the sameconsisting, first, in taking the clay in a dust-like orfinely-disintegrated condition and spraying or scattering the samethrough steam, and, secondly, in Working the clay to develop itsplasticity, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of twoWitnesses, this 27th day of January, 1892.

' PHINEAS ARNOLD,

Vitnesses:

JOHN A. Hosrn'r'rnn, PHIL. H. KOEHLER.

